ESB Professional/Shutterstock Early agreements on a Loss and Damage Fund, tripling renewables, decarbonization, methane and climate finance pledges have made for "a pretty damn good" first week at COP, according to US climate envoy John Kerry.But these voluntary pledges will be of limited impact if not followed by a binding agreement and the finance to achieve them. Parties remain far apart on many issues, but some lines are shifting. Save for later Print Download Share There is a palpable sense at Dubai's vast Expo City COP site that time to take action against climate change is running out. The imperative to respond effectively to a first "global stocktake" on climate impacts and progress toward meeting 2015 Paris Agreement targets might be intensifying efforts. But it has also sharpened divisions among parties on issues from a fossil fuel phaseout to climate finance.
